Empire of Fashion

[Pleater]

Hamish returned to the House.

He had been in hospital after the train accident, though no one would tell me what his injuries were, but I knew that the medical abilities of the locals were exceptional so did not worry about him all that much.

Sure enough when he arrived he seemed to be hardly the worse for wear at all, but he wore long gowns or robes rather than trousers, and seemed weary from the journey.

The male versions of myself naturally had more contact with such an august personage, but soon after the return they turned up with rather anxious expressions and requested any kilt lengths of fabric I might have.

'What colours would Hamish prefer, do you think?' I enquired.

'Ones that go with his shirts.' said the Chemistry master who was the fastest thinker.

'And who is going to be sewing them?'

'That is all taken care of, we just need the fabric.' said the Copper.

I selected three lots of eight yards in shades of brown and green, and handed them over, one to each man. I saw each one in turn raise his eyebrows at the weight and feel of the cloth and then look at the shelves where the remainder of my work was stored.

'They're all counted.' I warned. 'Just let me note down the ones they are - so I can keep a tally.'

I had put in a code number on the edge of what would be the lower edge of the under apron, so I knew where in the order of weaving they came.

'I hope that Hamish will soon have recovered from the journey and be back amongst us again.' I said, fishing for information.

'I expect that it will be only a few days.'

'In time for Christmas?' I dangled the bait.

'Possibly.' was all I caught.

'And how is the Chairman doing in the Laboratory?'

'Ah, well, he seems to be having some trouble with the focus.'

'If he needs any help with the maths, just let me know.' I said, putting on my most willing to be helpful expression.

They departed in a flurry of excuses, and I frowned at their backs. They might be me, but the local society was having a detrimental effect on them

Next day Hamish and the Chairman had a violent argument, the Chairman went to sulk in the Library, and Hamish followed him there and saw the empty shelves. There was an even greater row then, and the Chairman went to his apartment and locked himself in, calling for his closest henchmen to occupy the corridors outside.

I instantly saw my opportunity to visit the Laboratory, and see just how much work had been done using the disrupter to facilitate distortion of timelines. I hurried along the gloomy corridor, found the door unlocked and unguarded, and slipped inside, sliding the bolts home to prevent any disturbance.